We continue our offseason series taking a look back at past Calgary Flames rosters with the 2016–17 squad. After a dismal 2015–16 season, the Flames fired coach Bob Hartley and brought in Glen Gulutzan as the team’s new head coach. In his first season behind the bench he’d lead the Flames back to the playoffs, only to be swept in the first round. The Flames made the playoffs in large part to their franchise tying 10-game winning streak near the end of the season.
From that team Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson are the only members who still have any ties to the organization, although Andersson played just one game that season. No other member of the team still plays or works for the Flames.
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau
After a breakout sophomore season the year prior, Johnny Gaudreau’s offence took a step back in 2016–17 with 61 points in 72 games. At the time it was the lowest total of his three-year career. He also scored just 18 goals which is still the lowest total of his entire career to this day. To his credit, the entire Flames roster struggled to produce this season.
As we all know, Gaudreau would develop into a true superstar in Calgary over the next eight years before making the decision to leave in free agency for Columbus in 2022. This past season Gaudreau and the Blue Jackets finished 31st in the NHL with Gaudreau posting his lowest full season point total in six years.
Sean Monahan
Like Gaudreau, Sean Monahan’s numbers would dip in 2016–17, just not as much. He’d post 27 goals and 58 points across 82 games, slightly below his 2015–16 pace. In March 2017, Monahan broke Jarome Iginla’s franchise record for regular season overtime goals with his seventh in just four seasons.
Unfortunately a slew of serious injuries would catch up to him over the years and he’d be traded during the 2022 offseason after multiple successful seasons as a Flame. He’s since played with the Montreal Canadiens, which is where he’ll play in 2023–24 after re-signing this past offseason.
Mikael Backlund
Mikael Backlund would follow up on his career best 2015–16 season with an even better year in 2016–17 at the age of 27. He’d post a then career-high 53 points in 81 games, a number that would stand as his career best until his 56 points last season. His 22 goals that season are still a career-high to this day.
Backlund has become one of the best Flames of all time and currently sits third all time for games played as a Flame. At 35 years old, his current status is up in the air as trade rumours swirl but regardless of what happens he’ll always be a fan favourite and all-time great in Calgary.
Matthew Tkachuk
After being selected sixth overall at the 2016 draft, Matthew Tkachuk would become just the second Flame of the decade along with Monahan to debut right out of the draft. He’d make an immediate impact as a 18-year-old, putting up 48 points in 76 games.
Tkachuk would develop into one of the best wingers in the entire NHL over the next five seasons in Calgary before refusing to re-sign last summer. He’s currently entering year one of an eight-year extension with the Panthers after posting a career-high 109 points with them last season.
Sam Bennett
After 36 points in his rookie season, big things were expected of Sam Bennett entering 2016–17. Unfortunately he’d take a step back with only 26 points. It was a sign of things to come for Bennett as he never eclipsed his rookie point total in Calgary.
Over another five seasons as a Flame he’d fail to match his rookie point total before eventually being traded at the 2021 trade deadline to Florida for a prospect and draft pick, seven years after being picked fourth overall. Bennett’s career has since found a second wind as he’s become a solid second line player for the Florida Panthers.
Michael Frolik
Michael Frolik would continue his strong play in 2016–17, posting 44 points in 82 games which stood as his highest point total since his rookie year in 2008–09. He’d also continue his strong chemistry with Backlund as the duo dominate at even strength and on the penalty kill.
Over the next four years in Calgary, Frolik would become a key part of the Flames roster and part of the famous 3M line. Eventually he’d be dealt during the 2019–20 season. After two more years in the NHL, he’d head over to Europe in 2021 which is where he’s played the last two seasons.
Michael Ferland
Michael Ferland would build off his rookie season the year prior, putting up 15 goals and 25 points in 76 games in 2016–17. Ferland would become a big part of the Flames the next year but would be dealt to Carolina in the blockbuster Dougie Hamilton trade in 2018. After two more years in the NHL, Ferland was forced to retire in 2020 at the age of 28 due to a series of concussions. He currently works with the Western Canada Hockey Academy (WCHA) in a development role.
Kris Versteeg
Signed as a free agent in October right before the season began, veteran Kris Versteeg wouldn’t miss a beat in his first season in Calgary. He’d register 37 points in 69 games to finish sixth among Flames forwards despite missing 13 games.
Versteeg would return to Calgary the following year but would miss most of the season due to injury. He’d then go over to Europe in 2018 where he played for two years until retiring from hockey in 2020. After retiring, he founded a sports technology app named Klevr.ai in 2021.
Troy Brouwer
The Flames big free agent signing prior to the season, Troy Brouwer would fall flat in the first season of his big new deal. He’d post just 25 points in 74 games after posting 39 the year prior.
Browuer’s time in Calgary would be a disaster to say the least. He’d play just one more underwhelming season in Calgary before being bought out two years into his four-year deal in 2018. After two more years in the NHL, he retired in 2020. Brouwer has worked as a scout for the St. Louis Blues the last two seasons.
Alex Chiasson
Acquired via trade by the Flames during the offseason, Alex Chiasson would come to Calgary and post 24 points in 81 games in 2016–17. His time in Calgary would be short as he would leave as a free agent in the offseason after just one year in Calgary.
Lance Bouma
Lance Bouma’s fall off would continue in 2016–17, managing just three goals and seven points in 61 games. The total marked the worst point pace of his career and a far cry from his 34 points in 2014–15.
Following the season Bouma’s contract was bought out with a year remaining. He played one more season in the NHL in 2017–18 before going over to Europe and has spent the last three seasons playing in the SHL.
Matt Stajan
Matt Stajan would continue to be a constant presence in the Flames lineup in 2016–17, playing in 81 games and adding on 23 points as a 32-year-old.
He’d play one more year in Calgary before going over to Europe for one season in 2018–19. He retired soon after in 2019. Since retiring Stajan has called Calgary home and has had an active role with the NHLPA as a representative for both Toronto and Calgary. He’s also served as an assistant coach for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen the last two seasons.
Defencemen
Mark Giordano
Mark Giordano would see a sizeable decrease in his point production in 2016–17, going from 56 the year prior to 39 this season. That said, he continued to operate as the team’s number one defenceman and formed one of the best pairings in the NHL with Dougie Hamilton. He’d finish the year eighth in Norris voting.
Giordano served as the Flames captain and number one defenceman for five more years until being claimed in the 2021 expansion draft, leaving as the second longest tenured player and captain in Flame history. He’s spent the last two seasons playing for his hometown Maple Leafs. Here’s hoping he signs a one-day contract to retire as a Flame in the future.
Dougie Hamilton
Now in his second season as a Flame in 2016–17, Dougie Hamilton would put up the best season of his career at the time. He’d post a then career-high 50 points in 81 games, leading all Flames defenders in scoring. Like Giordano, he’d also finish top 10 in Norris voting at the end of the year.
Hamilton would continue to dominate alongside Giordano on the Flames top pair for one more season before eventually being dealt in a blockbuster deal to Carolina in 2018. He’s continued his elite play as one of the league’s best defenders over the last five seasons split between Carolina and now New Jersey where he signed as a free agent in 2021.
T.J. Brodie
Like most Flames, T.J. Brodie would see his point totals drop in 2016–17 to 36 points in 81 games. With Hamilton now on the top pairing full-time, Brodie was able to take on a lighter role leading the team’s second pairing.
Brodie would remain an integral part of the Flames defence for the next three seasons before leaving as a free agent in 2020. He’d leave the franchise with the fourth most games by a defenceman in franchise history. He currently plays with Giordano in Toronto.
Dennis Wideman
The 2016–17 season would end up being the final one of Dennis Wideman’s career. He’d play in 57 games for the Flames on their second pairing, putting up 18 points as a 33-year-old.
Wideman would retire following the season as a free agent. Since retiring he’s served as an assistant coach for his hometown Kitchener Rangers for the past six years.
Derek Engelland
Like Wideman, the 2016–17 would be Derek Engelland’s last in Calgary. Reliable as always, he’d play in 81 games and add on 16 points while playing on the Flames third pairing.
Engelland would be claimed in the 2017 Vegas expansion draft as a free agent following the season. After three years in Vegas, Engelland retired in 2020. Soon after retiring he transitioned to a role as Vegas’ Special Assistant to the Owner.
Jyrki Jokipakka
Acquired the previous season in the Kris Russell trade, Jyrki Jokipakka would play in 38 games for the Flames in 2016–17. He’d add on one goal and six points. Jokipakka would eventually be dealt at the trade deadline along with a second-round pick for Curtiz Lazar. After closing out the season in Ottawa, Jokipakka went over to Europe in 2017 and has played there the past six seasons.
Goaltenders
Brian Elliott
Without a single returning goalie from the 2015–16 season, the Flames went out and acquired veteran Brian Elliott for a second-round pick at the 2016 draft to take over in net for 2016–17. The pick would of course become Jordan Kyrou, while Elliott would struggle in his first year as a Flame. He’d register a 26–18–3 record and .910 save percentage, largely bolstered by the aforementioned 10-game winning streak near the end of the season.
Unfortunately he’d have a disastrous playoffs where he posted a .880 save percentage en route to getting swept despite the Flames dominating for large chunks of the series. His time in Calgary would end there and he’d leave as a free agent following the season. He’s spent the last six seasons between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay in a primarily backup role.
Chad Johnson
Signed as a free agent to backup Elliott in 2016–17, Chad Johnson would end up playing in 36 games and posting an 18–15–1 record along with a .910 save percentage. He’d eventually take over from Elliott in Game 4 of the first round. Despite his strong performance it would be too little too late and the Flames would get swept. Had he started Game 1 of the playoffs, who knows what would’ve happened that year.
Like Elliott, Johnson’s time in Calgary would be one and done. He’d be dealt after the season in a deal for Mike Smith. After two more years in the NHL he retired in 2019 at the age of 33.
